Uncovering the Truth'Historic abuse case'

It is time to get the message out there. While some of the victims of Lake Alice have received minor pay outs, there has still been no justice for the children of Lake Alice.

So what happened?

It all started back in 1997 when a ex patient's brother said to him we need to do something about the terrible things that happened to you in that place. The brother who is a lawyer realized how big of a case he had so he contacted Grant Cameron. There is talk that money was exchanged and Grant brought the case off the brother, the brother knowing its value etc, but I can not be sure of this.

To sum things up in 2001 Helen Clark the then Prime minister apologised, sending a letter to the past patients to say 'sorry'. I must say the letter is pretty pathetic. This was followed by compensation.

Who received payouts? Out of about 300, 150 did. These where ONLY people who where in the adolescent unit during the dates of 1970- 1978, the unit closed in 1978. not all ex patients wanted to be involved in the court case therefore have not received any money.

This is not to say that other patients in Lake Alice during those dates did not receive ECT or where sexually abused. It is very hypocritical of the NZ government to pay out money to patients for a medical treatment that is still practiced today and causes serious long term damage to the muscles and brain while also burns the tissue, that's just to name a few side affects. Guess they don't think so huh!

The government said they first put aside $100 Million for the Lake Alice compensation. when the lawyer Grant Cameron decided to do a out of court settlement with the government this meant the patients would receive less money and lawyers would still cash in large. CompensationPatients received different payout amounts. This could have been due to the more time you spent in the hospital or perhaps abuse you where subjected to.Grant Cameron made over $2 Million for his 'effort' not bad considering he settled out of court so he could get the better deal.

One patient paid fee's of ($52,000) to Grant Cameron and only walked away with ($77,000) thats almost half of his $131,000 compensation in fees!

ECT explained

ECT involves passing an electrical current through the brain for a short period of time over several sessions. It sends the patient into convulsions and muscle relaxants are often administered prior to treatment.

Originally developed as a treatment for schizophrenia in 1938, ECT was found to be ineffective in reducing psychotic symptoms. It is now used exclusively as a treatment for severe depression for which it has been found to be effective, and is usually only administered when drug treatment has failed.

The exact mode of action of ECT is uncertain. However, the most plausible account of ECT's effectiveness is that it produces various biochemical changes in the brain, which are greater than those produced by anti-depressant drugs. Since many physiological changes occur when ECT is administered it is difficult to establish which of these are significant. It is likely that the neurotransmitters noradrenaline and adrenaline are affected as research indicates these are strongly implicated in the disorder.Source: Making the Modern World UK

Photos below, of a former ECT machine from Lake Alice. Note the markings 'V6' Villa 6.

Treatment used mainly for severe depressive episodes. It involves the passage of an electric current across the head of a person to produce a convulsion. The treatment is painless, as the individual is given general anaesthetic and muscle relaxant before and during ECT. It is used when antidepressant medication has not been effective, the severity of symptoms means it is not possible to wait for the effects of such medication to become apparent, or the side-effects to or risks associated with medication make ECT the most appropriate treatment option.There ''Independent review'' of ECT:The independent review of the medical evidence for ECT concluded that its use is appropriate for treating some serious mental disorders, and banning its use would deprive some seriously ill patients of a potentially effective and sometimes lifesaving means of treatment. The review group considered the current regulatory controls for ECT needed to change. They recommend that where possible ECT use should only be administered with the patient’s consent, noting that patients should be able to refuse treatment in advance when regarded as competent to make this decision.

Government abandonment against appeals decision on Patients case

Ex-patient Paul Zentveld overwhelming evidence shows the government willingness to not pay the remaining 30% compensation and legal fees that is still owed. From the second round of claimants the government held back around 30% of each patients money to try and match up with the first round’s legal fees. The first round claimants paid $30-53 thousand dollars fees to Grant Cameron & associates.

Mr Zentveld paved the way for other patients whom had been mislead by the Labour government and now the crown are prepared to offer a ex-gratia to the second round claimantsAs it stands second round claimants paid no legal fees and first round paid massive legal fees.

Check out the relating document below which helped Paul win his withheld compensation in court.

Letters from the GovernmentSince Nationals win in Government we have asked for there response on the compensation and justice. National has sent the letter below to us, not very promising.

December 09 update.

Click on me

Wow this one took me by surprise, a letter of recommendation from MP Tau Henare Chairman of Maori affairs select committee. Pledging his support for the government to get the Lake Alice case sorted. Sadly Jonathan Coleman the Feigning man he is present's yet another repetitive response have you no shame Coleman? I have been given Mr Henares letter to government and there response so take a look below it just shows how easily in this country politics sweep things under the rug, to deal with the Lake Alice claims would mean that they were WRONG and there are abusive people who still work or worked within our health system.